Somehow, in the world of buying and selling, there are few people who seem to have more power than they think they have. These people include loan officers at the bank, police officers and, believe it or not, real estate agents. There are some home buyers who are afraid to call the number on the outside of the home for fear that the real estate agent will want to “meet” with them in person. For some unknown reason, new home buyers think that real estate agents will bother them on the same level as a car salesman. That belief couldn’t be further from the truth.

I’ll get you a house today!

The car salesman has one goal and one goal. That goal is to get the prospective car buyer to get into a car that same day. The real estate agent, on the other hand, understands the fact that there is literally no possible way to get a home buyer to buy a home in one day. The fears that many first-time home buyers or new home buyers have about the real estate agent are as absurd as they could get. But where does this fear begin?

Most of the time, word of mouth about a bad real estate experience is what the buyer ends up dreading for the real estate profession. Home buyers have heard from a friend or friend of a friend that the real estate agent they worked with on the sale of their home or when they were trying to buy a home was slit their throats and tried to force them into a home that they did not like it. This fear is then passed down from friend to friend and to the prospective home buyer looking for the home you have listed. If a home buyer takes a risk and calls the number posted on the outside of the home, they are immediately on guard; waiting for the real estate agent to request a meeting.

How does the real estate agent overcome fear?

The best way for the real estate agent to deal with a potential home buyer’s fear of meeting with the agent is to suggest an open house in the future or offer to show the family the inside of the home before meeting. with them at home. real estate office. If the potential buyer likes the home, they will be more likely to stop fearing and talk to you about buying the home. It is important, when you meet the family or the couple for the first time, to offer them as much information as possible about the home; Both good and bad. By being completely open with the potential home buyer about the home, they will immediately fear less and trust more.

When a person has served in the military and wants to buy a home, one of the first things to do is look for a VA home loan. This loan gives the buyer the opportunity to buy a home with no down payment. They may not be required to pay for mortgage insurance every month. There may be limitations on the closing costs paid by the buyer. And an appraisal detailing the value of a property could also be provided.

How much time is required?

Answering this question accurately can be difficult. Most VA loans can be closed within 45 days. This is common in the mortgage industry. There are a number of steps in the approval process and getting pre-approved is one way to shorten your closing time. Pre-approval means that a person has met the lender’s basic requirements for a loan before beginning the process. The timeline for a seller to move out of the home and a buyer to move into the home can affect closing time. An agreed move-in date can also make the process longer or shorter. The VA evaluation also plays a role. If the appraiser makes the loan based on necessary repairs, the closing date could be extended by weeks and sometimes even months. After an appraisal, the VA loan must go through the underwriting process. This is the final step. The need for more documentation or resolution of eligibility issues may cause the closing date to be extended.

How much income do I have to generate to get approved?

When a person applies for a VA home loan, they will learn of a formula known as the debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The DTI takes the VA loan applicant’s monthly debt payments and compares them to their gross monthly income. A lender will focus on monthly debts such as the cost of housing, unsecured debt, and more. The DTI index benchmark for a VA loan is approximately 41 percent. When it is more, a lender may want additional financial information. If a person has a high percentage of debt compared to their income, they should not give up. Some lenders will provide a VA loan with higher DTI rates.

How long do I have to be on active duty to get a VA loan?

The first step in applying for a VA loan is completing and submitting VA Form 26-1880. This is to request a Certificate of Eligibility. This certificate is provided by the Veterans Administration. It is proof that a person is eligible for a VA loan. It does not guarantee that a person will be approved for a loan. The time required on active duty is determined by when a person was in the military. A person who served in the Gulf War must have completed 24 months of continuous active duty or for at least 90 days and have received a discharge other than dishonorable. A person will qualify if they served during this time for less than 90 days but have a service-connected disability. For specific length of service requirements for a VA loan, contact the Veterans Administration.

If you have a home and need to sell it for some reason, you need to think and plan a bit. The most important task is to properly appraise your home. This can be done with the help of an agent or evaluator. There are also some online services available to establish the value of a property. You should consider your mortgage payment, taxes, and real estate agent fees before determining the value of your home. Make sure again that it is neither under nor over price.

The next task is to present your home to prospective buyers in a respectable condition. To do this, you can enlist the help of a professional home inspector, who may recommend necessary improvements before listing the home. The exteriors of the house should be attractive and well cared for. Outdoor areas must be neat and clean. It’s a good idea to touch up interiors where they are damaged. It will be helpful to replace bathroom and kitchen fixtures if they are worn or leaking.

At this point, you are ready to post ads and brochures or even contact agents to sell the house. You should allow potential buyers to come see the home at their convenience. If it can be available to show the house, it will likely sell faster. Before buyers come to visit, make sure there are no odors in your home, that there is adequate lighting in all areas, that all pets are under control, and that the home looks clean and tidy.

Once you have a buyer who agrees to buy your home, you should bring your attorney to take care of the legalities and paperwork. They can handle the title search and paperwork for a small fee. And then you must prepare to vacate your home according to the agreement. Most of the time, it is an emotional moment, and one must be mentally prepared for this eventual separation.

Selling a house is a crucial task. Sometimes homeowners don’t like to involve agents, preferring to sell the house themselves. For this you must have information on all aspects of the sale and agreements between buyers and sellers. This way, you could save a few thousand dollars in commission. On the other hand, if you are unfamiliar with negotiating, you can come up with a low-paying deal. And even the paperwork and legal procedures become your responsibility. So if you feel like you’re not up to scratch, it’s best to hire a reputable real estate agent to do the work for you.

For real estate investing to work for you, you must always keep in mind the economic conditions that dictate what type of real estate investment is the best option at any given time. Do you know its basics? What are bank owned REO properties or delinquent loans? What is the difference between the two? It really is quite simple.

Both delinquent loans and bank-owned REO properties are the unfortunate children of the economic downturn. As the economic crisis takes a turn, so does the loss of homes as struggling homeowners cannot keep up with loans and mortgages.

An adaptation of the well-known nursery rhyme “First comes a non-performing loan, then a foreclosure” serves to illustrate the progression of distressed property management and the main difference between the two concepts. While they undoubtedly traveled the same path, the difference in distance along the path is each.

Let’s say a homeowner can no longer pay a loan. The first month the bank lets it pass. The second month, they mail the letter. On the third, the deck falls: the property has been declared a loan in default. For all intents and purposes, a non-performing home loan is a home loan that has defaulted or is in danger of default when the homeowner can no longer make payments. With some exceptions, three months is all a homeowner has to pay off the estate before their loan is delinquent. And with the current economic conditions, bad loans are sprouting like mushrooms after the rain. Financial corporations that specialize in delinquent loans will help purchase the loan that best suits individual financial portfolios. By liquidating the assets involved, they can realistically provide good value. But not a 50% discounted price. Not with complementary property repairs. Not in bulk. And certainly not without tons of paperwork and fees. None of the things REO-owned banks can and will do to drive the sale.

Bank-owned REO property, on the other hand, is the next step in the distressed property timeline. No payment on a home loan will sooner or later result in “stepping out,” in other words, the dreaded foreclosure. Foreclosure unceremoniously throws distressed property to the auction table. Properties that cannot be auctioned end up as REO properties owned by the bank. With today’s economy, banks have a veritable real estate tsunami on their way. Fighting savagely to get at least some money back and clearing the books, banks sell bank-owned REO properties like tomatoes at the local market, at a discount, bonds, and other in-house expenses eliminated.

While both are viable options for a real estate investor, everyone wants to buy where an offer is best. And in real estate, affordable, bulk, abundant and flexible REO owned by the bank is much better than a delinquent loan, sometimes expensive and rigamarole.

And who wouldn’t opt ​​for a deal that gives you the maximum benefit with a minimal investment, fast.

It is a dream for many people to be able to earn money from the comfort of their own home. Imagine a day when you can wake up, wash up, and spend some time by your windowsill listening to birdsong instead of the furious honking of horns on the highway. Sounds lovely right?

What prevents many people from pursuing this incredible ideal of making money from home is that it would probably be very difficult to do so. I am writing this article to tell you that making a living working from home is not as difficult as it sounds. If you think about it, anything worth having takes a bit of effort. To earn money from your job, you most likely went to school, spent many hours searching and applying for jobs online, even more hours preparing for and going through interviews, and then a ton more time going and coming from work. Not to mention the actual work you are doing once you are at work.

Compared to that, learning how to earn income from home isn’t really that much more difficult. With a little effort and planning, you’ll be well on your way to birdsong-filled mornings. Here are some ways you can get started.

Rent a room. When you think about making money online, images of scam gurus, my spam gurus, probably come to mind. But remember that making money online is pretty much the same as making money offline. The difference is that the Internet gives you exposure and access to a broader set of possibilities. An example is the possibility of renting a room for extra money. By posting an empty room listing instead on a site like craigslist or airbnb, you can start putting cash in your pocket right away. No investment is required.

Sell ​​Arts and Crafts. If you have an artistic bone (or two), you can get paid for it. Websites like Etsy give you an online showcase where you can win customers from all corners of the world. A quick tour shows you that you can sell pretty much anything you can make, be it jewelry, paintings, quilts, etc.

Write. This one is pretty straightforward. The point is, there are thousands of websites that make their income from advertising. The way they attract that publicity is with fresh content. As such, they are constantly looking for writers to contribute to their site. You can be paid between $ 5 and $ 100 per item, depending on where you look.

Buy low, sell high. This is not a principle that applies only to actions, it applies to everything. One way you could use this to your advantage is to search craigslist for things that people are willing to give away or want to get rid of. A good example is furniture: people move and often cannot take things with them. The good news is that there are always people who move. This is where you come in. It is incredibly easy to start your own furniture business this way.

Tutor. Everyone has something to teach another. Regardless of the skills you have (writing, math, computer science, etc.), you can be sure that there is someone looking to learn them. They are also usually willing to pay to learn it.

Drug rehab programs in Maryland

There are hundreds and hundreds of drug rehab programs in Maryland that claim to provide the most effective addiction treatment in the country. You can go online and find drug rehab after drug rehab listed with a variety of “recovery claims.” It appears that most of these drug and alcohol rehab programs are properly licensed and provide basic addiction treatment services. However, there are several challenges and one is that Maryland drug rehab could be located close to its “trampling grounds” and the second is the quality of the family recovery program it offers.

Choosing drug rehab outside of Maryland

While it is generally more comfortable to choose drug rehab close to home, we are not seeking comfort, we are seeking recovery. The closer a person is to their home, the closer they are to the neighborhood liquor store and drug dealer. In the early stages of drug rehab, a person will generally go through an alcohol detox or a drug detox. This is a challenging time, where the cravings are intense and the desire to leave drug rehab is at an all-time high. People generally think twice about leaving drug rehab if they are not receiving addiction treatment services in their own backyard.

The family component in drug rehabilitation

We all know the damage that has occurred within the family due to years of drug addiction and alcoholism. Most drug rehab programs will offer family therapy once a week for two to three weeks to solve problems that have taken years to develop. Quality addiction treatment and drug rehabilitation programs will have a family recovery component consisting of a minimum of four full days for the family and patient to work together. These groups must be led by a licensed marriage and family therapist with experience in addiction treatment.

In order to addiction treatment program, drug rehab, alcohol rehab or dual diagnosis treatment center in Maryland, you can call the National Addiction Treatment Helpline at 1-800-511-9225 or go to www.recoveryconnection.org

When choosing the best way to remember the life of a loved one and preserve their memory, many different personalized options are available. This personalization creates a more meaningful experience for families and visitors.

The new trends of the last decades reflect the changing needs of households, and topics such as advanced planning are becoming more and more common. The rise and use of technology, awareness of the green movement and efforts to save costs have facilitated new trends in the industry. Regardless of religious or spiritual practices, people are more empowered than ever about post-death arrangements.

Tradition gives way to personalization

Cremation services are expected to exceed the number of traditional funeral ceremonies in the coming years. Once controversial for some religions, this method is gaining acceptance among different religions. With the need for a viewing, the body can still be there for the memory. In addition, some families choose to have a monument in which the urn is displayed.

The mobility of memory

With the mobility of today’s society, cremation services also provide a cost-saving benefit. For example, the cost of shipping an urn is less than shipping a casket. In addition, families save on internment and on the cost of the plots. With the relatively smaller size of an urn, some people also choose to rest their loved one in a more revered place, such as at home or in nature. Some companies have introduced customizable containers, which allow for more prominent display and functional use. For example, containers are sold with seeds inside, allowing the remains to grow into trees.

Modernize memorials

Aside from economic benefits, other social factors have contributed to the rise in cremation services and the recent shift toward personalized funerals. Families are moving toward audio and video software to create memory multimedia displays with new technologies. They are displayed at the service and provide attendees with a glimpse into the lives of the deceased and a unique opportunity to celebrate the past.

Along with the rise of ecological awareness in today’s society, funeral options have also changed. Thus, lifestyles and personal values ​​are reflected in the modern obsequious. The philosophical and conservationist ideals that were once important to an individual remain intact throughout the funeral process. Natural burials and the use of biodegradable materials take these ideals into account. With the use of cremation services, a body can return to the ground in its natural state and contribute to the environment.

Advanced planning and discussions about post-death arrangements, along with more personalized features by facilities, have given individuals and relatives more control over how they choose to remember life. While still a popular option, traditional funeral arrangements are now more diverse and provide loved ones with the comfort and comfort they seek after their loss.

Financial data: what do you need?

As a general rule of thumb, the more financial data that is available, the better. If your accounting system is sophisticated enough to produce internal balance sheets and profit and loss statements, they are certainly useful. Of course, the best information to use as a basis is the Federal Tax Return, as when these are submitted to the IRS, each and every final adjustment has been made. Additionally, three to five year returns will give the valuation analyst a better and more consistent track record of the company’s history. For more information and / or questions, trust the appraiser for guidance. Usually the most important source of data needed is the owner or CEO (or CFO if a company is large enough to support that position), who is generally very familiar with “financial events” and history. specific applicable.

Current debt: a factor?

In the context of assigning a value to a business to be sold, while debt is certainly important, it is generally not something that has a direct influence on business value. This is why. When there is a long-term debt to consider (any debt that is carried on the books for a period of more than one year), that debt is usually handled by the seller with the proceeds of the sale. If it turns out as part of the deal that the buyer will assume a certain amount of the owner’s long-term debt, that agreement is usually part of the purchase-sale agreement prepared by the attorneys and accountants on one or both sides.

How much should an appraisal cost?

The fee or service charge for a commercial appraisal / appraisal will vary, depending on a number of factors. It can run from a few hundred dollars for a simple “out of the box” software program, up to tens of thousands of dollars in some cases. . . if the project involves a medium or larger company ($ 10MIL or more in sales), and if it is requested from a major accounting or valuation firm. But for most smaller companies, with sales of, say, $ 500 million to $ 10MIL, and you are served by an experienced valuation professional who does nothing more than process valuations, the service fee should be in the range. They range from $ 3,500 to $ 7,500, depending on the size of your business and the amount of work to be authorized. (In some cases, the extras amount to the valuation of several different years, several different divisions of the same company, 5-year averages, valuation forms, etc. A valuation form is a valuation based on projections of expected results). An experienced and verified approach can produce accurate assessments that are worth your time. Which brings us to our next focal point. Select an appraisal professional or specialist to do the job of this very, very important service.

How to select a valuation service

A story that occurred several years ago comes to mind. When asked who would do the required valuation, the client replied, “I have an excellent accountant who will take care of that for me.” It was then suggested that the client verify how many companies the accountant normally values ​​over the course of a year. I later learned that the aforementioned accountant had appraised a company about 18 months ago. Needless to say, the client decided to opt for another firm that had a more meaningful and current valuation experience. And please don’t misunderstand my intention, as this is not a mockery of accountants. Most of those with whom we are familiar do professional and competent work in accounting, and some even have respectable valuation experience and activity. This accountant simply did not have substantial valuation experience. The following checklist will help you with the selection process.

Valuation Company / Professional Checklist

o How long the appraiser’s “system” to be used has been in operation

o Printed literature and / or data sheets describing the process to be used

o Variety and size of companies valued in the past

o Frequency of valuation projects

o How the final numbers can be verified

o Are comparables from other similar companies provided?

o Lists of previous clients as references

o Letters of testimonials from previous valuation clients

o Articles published on valuation / appraisal of companies

o Ability to provide expert testimony in court if necessary

Please note that the above list does not include certification as a selection criteria. Certification from a major business valuation association is a good badge to wear, but it does not guarantee that the final numbers produced will be more accurate or realistic than those produced by a non-certified valuation professional. The key here is history, history, history! Also, the price you pay for a valuation is not a sure bet indicator of the accuracy of the results. A few years ago, one of the leading business magazines published an article featuring a valuation “expert” detailing the valuation assignment of a particular “services” company. As the article concluded, this valuation analyst cited the client’s business value from 15 to 22 to 61 times earnings. Actually. 61 times the earnings? (A copy of the article is available upon request) And the lesson here? A great company and a great fee don’t necessarily buy a bulletproof valuation.

In the words of a client who was kind enough to send us a letter after the sale of 25% of his property in a retail furniture store. . . . “I sold my part of the business, which came to a figure resulting from their analysis and I am satisfied that it was a fair price for the time.” What more can be said! ***

Grants to help sellers

There are two aids available to help homeowners who are thinking of selling. The “Ten Commandments of the Seller” is a list of guidelines that will help the owner prepare his business for sale and at the best possible price. The “Debt Service Worksheet” is an instruction sheet for learning how the mechanical down payment and financial balance interact when a seller plans to offer homeowner financing. Both are available free of charge by writing to Halas & Associates, 425 Roselawn Place, Charlotte, NC., Or by email: [email protected]

Do you really need a real estate agent these days? Yes and no. Yes, you can absolutely sell your house yourself. No, it is not as easy as you think, but I will describe how to do it below, in case you decide to go that way.

With the emergence of sites like Zillow, Redfin, and Trulia, the real estate industry has moved from a needs-based to a knowledge-based industry. You no longer NEED to hire an agent, in fact with many agents you could do better if you do it yourself. A good real estate agent will know how to negotiate, be an expert in the community, a great trader, and very knowledgeable about all standard contracts and state forms.

If you know enough to get in trouble, you will get in trouble.

These are my steps to a successful FSBO (for sale by owner)

1. Determine your market value. Obviously, you can get acquainted with what is selling in your area by visiting Zillow and such, but pay $ 30 for a smartzip Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), to help you properly value your property. A CMA will provide you with comparable sales and active listings. You must be informed if you are negotiating with a potential buyer.

2. Pay an MLS-type service only about $ 300 to list your home on MLS and offer at least 2.5% to any buyer’s agent who brings you a buyer. Use pictures from an experienced real estate photographer (yes, it matters) and set your home on a stage if it’s empty or make it presentable if you still live there (yes, that matters too).

3. List your home on Craigslist and forsalebyowner.com using postlets or vflyer to create a virtual flyer.

4. Put up a sign in your yard with colored flyers (you can put some in black and white as an endorsement) and a web address linking potential buyers to your home.

5. Run a Facebook ad campaign targeting engaged or married women between the ages of 25 and 35 in your area, and create a Google AdWords pay-per-click campaign for keywords. “[neighborhood (not city) name] houses for sale “, enter the details better than just the name of the city.

to. Ex’s.

I. Black Gold Properties for Sale

ii. Home of Yorba Linda High School

iii. Horse property for sale

6. Get a good escrow company to help you with the transaction (this will cost you on average about 1% of the purchase price). The escrow officer is the “quarterback” for the transaction. A good one will make a difference in the world. If your buyer is represented by an agent, they may insist on using their escrow agent. If you know your escrow agent is good, don’t let them convince you to use theirs. Here in Yorba Linda and Anaheim Hills, the seller often chooses escrow companies.

7. Get it right! If you don’t get a lot of feedback in the first 3 weeks. This is an indication that your home is overpriced.

8. Disclose, Disclose, Disclose. The California Standard Residential Purchase Agreement (RPA) used by any agent (at least one competent one) will require that you have all disclosures to the buyer within 5 days of submitting the offer. Disclosures will differ depending on the property being sold. Your custody officer may be able to help you with this.

9. Ask the buyer to eliminate your contingencies (if you have them). Contingencies are generally removed after 17 days of the accepted offer, but again it depends on what is written in the contract. Read and understand the contract before accepting any offer.

Selling your home without an agent is similar to setting up your corporation or living trust at LegalZoom, sure it can be done and save you money up front, but you never know how much it will cost in the future, or what little mistakes can hurt. you.

Get informed and you can definitely sell your home without an agent.

The typical commission required by a real estate agent to sell a home will be around 6% depending on the area of ​​the country where you live and market trends. This can be a substantial sum of money that homeowners do not want to part with. Some homeowners will try to sell their home on their own, but keep in mind that up to 80% of homeowners end up listing their home with an agent after receiving little interest in the property. One of the main reasons for this is that word of mouth among real estate agents is the best advertisement there is to sell your home. Even if you successfully market your home, the buyer will most likely have an agent to whom you will have to pay a commission or search fee. If you think FSBO is the method for you, take a moment to consider marketing strategies that can help ease the process.

Pricing your home accurately is the most important step in the process. If you overvalue your home, you are doomed. Check out the comparables in your neighborhood. Be sure to take into account any features these homes may have that yours does not have. Look at the square footage, lot size, and most importantly, the condition of your home compared to others. If the house at the end of the street is selling for $ 50,000 more than another, be sure to find out why, they may have invested in a high-end remodel that justifies the price. If your home is on the market for an extended period because it is overpriced, buyers may begin to suspect that something is wrong with your home.

The Internet is an invaluable marketing tool that anyone trying FSBO should use. There are many FSBO websites that offer assistance for free or for a nominal fee. Since the Internet provides access to your home remotely, you will need to ensure that the photos you use are well done and look professional. Most buyers won’t even bother looking at a home list that doesn’t have flashy photos. Make sure your home is truly immaculate when these photos are taken. Trim bushes, mow lawns, and clean up any clutter. If a bare front door is the only bad thing about your home, the buyer will never know because they will never come to see your home if the initial presentation is bad. First impressions absolutely count in real estate. Take photos of every room in your house and upload them. Be sure to open windows, hide clutter, and highlight unique features like a fireplace or built-in bookcases.

Be as descriptive as possible when posting your own home. Buyers are interested or they wouldn’t be looking, so more information is better. Put up posters if possible. Advertise in all reasonable real estate newspapers and magazines. Send an electronic brochure to real estate agents representing your area and invite real estate agents to tour your home. It is much easier to market a home than the one you have seen. Make sure real estate agents can easily access your home, putting too many restrictions on access to your home will be prohibitive for a sale Lastly, have open houses. Invite the neighbors to the open house; they may have relatives who would like to live nearby.

Selling your home can be an overwhelming experience. But if you are committed to an FSBO, prepare to do a lot of marketing on your own. Take advantage of all advertising media. If you are one of the lucky few who are successful with this method, you will have saved yourself thousands in real estate agent commissions. However, keep the market in mind when considering this option. Selling your home in a timely manner when it is listed with a real estate agent can outweigh the value of saving a few dollars in commission.